The 2013 Sean Reader Master-Junior Simul drew its strongest field ever. Four teams competed each consisting of a seasoned GM or IM and 6 promising junior players. In each round, the titled players competed simultaneously against the juniors on the other team and vice versa. To win a match, a team needed 6.5 of the 12 possible points.

With U.S. G/60 Champ GM Sevillano completing the sweep (6-0) of the juniors from Team Matikozyan in Round 2, Team Khachiyan was able to sneak in and steal 2nd Place by virtue of earning a match point from Team Ambartsoumian while garnering enough individual points (Khachiyan, like Sevillano was 11-1) to edge Team Matikozyan by a half-point. Team Khachiyan juniors were Joshua Sheng (2175), Craig Hilby (2173), Alexander Xie (2029), Elkaei Rivera (2027), Danial Asaria (1930) and Stephanie Shao (1899).

The Sean Reader Master-Junior Simul invites Southern California’s best young players (average rating this year was 2067!) to this mentoring event at which all costs are covered by Sean’s Fund. The players enjoy a relaxed environment with their peers and their role models without any concern of rating loss. Players and their families enjoyed a catered lunch.

Each “Master” selects a Best Game winner. This year, the winners were:

This event originated in the 1970’s and was revised in 2000. It missed a few years, then was resurrected by Sean’s Fund, in honor of Sean Reader who participated in the event in 2003. Sean, who was diagnosed with leukemia on April 1, 2005, led his school team to a tie for 2nd in the K-6 Open at SuperNationals III (2005) a few days later, before dying on August of 2006. One of Sean's teammates, Sam Kennedy (starting at 2:10), talked about how moving it was to play on Sean's team in the US Chess Scoop video from the recently concluded SuperNationals.

Sean’s Fund not only sponsors this event, but also offers financial aid to chess students in the Santa Clarita Valley (CA) who cannot afford classes, camps, tournaments or other special events. Additionally, Sean’s Fund takes chess-themed backpacks (and teaches chess) to the young patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, City of Hope Hospital, and The Painted Turtle Camp. More at www.seansfund.org.